UKIP will stand in all three Coventry constituencies during May’s general election.

The party has announced leader of Coventry UKIP Mark Taylor will stand in Coventry South, with Avtar Taggar in Coventry North East and former Labour councillor Harjinder Sehmi in Coventry North West.

UKIP also has aspirations of fielding a full house of candidates during the local council elections to be held at the same time on May 7.

In the build up to the elections the three parliamentary contenders have been outlining what they stand for including less tax, separation from the European Union, stricter immigration controls and a commitment to listen to residents.

Mr Taylor said he felt UKIP could achieve a presence on the council and even secure a parliamentary seat as many Coventry people felt “abandoned” by the Tories and Labour.

He said: “One of the reasons I decided to get into politics is because I don’t think local councillors always listen.

“When it comes to planning and housing development, I’m not sure they listen as much as they could do.”

Mr Sehmi added: “A good example is the green belt and what is going on in Keresley at the moment where they are planning 800 new houses.

“I would certainly support the residents on that.”

Mr Sehmi, an immigrant from India who is now a British citizen, said he would also push for tighter border controls should he be elected – something he is confident is a realistic aspiration despite Labour’s Geoffrey Robinson winning the seat at the last election with a majority of over 6,000.

Mr Sehmi said: “Great Britain is overcrowded at the moment. We would like to see a system more like Australia where people are allowed to enter on the basis of their qualifications.

“We want people who are beneficial for the city.”

Mr Taggar underlined the party’s message on border control.

He said: “Immigration isn’t an open or shut door arrangement. If you went to a stall holder down the road and said ‘I want some apples’ and they said you had to have some rotten veg as well you would say no thank you.